The SFUSD Union protest made its way to Galileo on April 25th, at 8:15 AM to demand better working conditions and improved rights for school staff. Both teachers and students gathered to support the cause by marching and holding signs in front of the school. Eventually, about 50 individuals were marching in a circle at the front gate while people stopped to take photos and videos from the sidewalk, capturing the moment.
Every year protests like this one are held to bring attention to ongoing issues affecting schools. Besides Galileo, other school staff including Lowell, Balboa, and Washington protest to demand better pay, smaller class sizes, stronger public services, and relief from political pressure.
Social Studies teacher, Mr. Lynch, serves as the school’s representative for Union matters. He has been elected to this role for several years and is committed to supporting both staff and students. His main responsibility is to help resolve issues that affect working conditions within the school. He says, “It’s very important to show the Union community that Galileo also supports them.”
Mr. Lynch was also pleasantly surprised at the size of the protest, saying, “In my opinion the protest became bigger than I expected it but the more people supporting the better.”
Outside of school hours, Mr. Lynch dedicates time to union work. Because it’s illegal to conduct union activities on school property, he helps organize the protests outside the school gates to stay within legal boundaries. He also hopes that parents and other community members passing by will see the protest and become more aware of the union’s efforts.
For over 60 years, Galileo has supported student involvement in these protests. They’ve become a long standing tradition that reflects the school’s identity and commitment to community activism.
